Senegal Dominate with 3-0 Win, Set to Defend Title

Oluwasegun SanusiJanuary 16, 20241 Mins read293

Yesterday, AFCON fixtures gave a thrilling performance as the defending champions Senegal showcased their prowess with a convincing 3-0 victory over Gambia. Lamine Camara stole the spotlight, scoring twice, including a stunning 86th-minute goal already hailed as the tournament’s best.

Sadio Mané played a pivotal role by setting up Pape Gueye for the opening goal just four minutes into the match. Gambia faced a tough challenge from the start, compounded by a first-half red card for Ebou Adams, the first expulsion of the tournament, for catching Camara at the back of his heel.

Camara’s first goal in the second half, followed by his spectacular long-range strike, sealed Senegal’s comfortable victory. The defending champions sent a clear message to their rivals about their intent to secure a second consecutive title.

Meanwhile, five-time winner Cameroon faced a spirited challenge from Guinea in their opening fixture. Guinea, ranked 80th in the world, took an early lead through Mohamed Bayo’s goal.

However, Cameroon fought back, with Frank Magri nodding in Georges-Kevin Nkoudou’s cross to level the score. Despite Guinea being reduced to 10 men after skipper Francois Kamano’s red card, they resiliently held on for a deserved point.

In Group D, Algeria, the 2019 AFCON champions, faced a surprising setback as they were held to a draw by Angola. Despite dominating possession and having numerous chances, Algeria failed to capitalize fully.

Baghdad Bounedjah put Algeria ahead in the first half, but Mabululu’s penalty in the 60th minute levelled the score.

This result adds Algeria to the list of strong teams, including Egypt, Ghana, Cameroon, and Nigeria, who have struggled to secure victories in their opening matches.

With Burkina Faso and Mauritania set to start their campaigns on Tuesday, the competition is heating up, promising more exciting moments and unexpected outcomes in the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations.